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There are legitimate concerns to deal with. Having several recovery plans for the endangered fish fragments recovery activities for the species. The criteria for downlisting and delisting has become more restrictive with the update of the Colorado squawfish plan requiring the San Juan River and an additional population in the Lower Basin to be recovered. We are concerned that the requirements of the Endangered Species Act for consultation, and the direction presently being pursued in the biological opinions, may affect Reclamation's primary responsibility for water conservation storage and flood control. Some of you also feel that these measures may violate the "Law of the River." The Fish and Wildlife Service is holding to the hypothesis that "natural flows" are better for the endangered fish and that operations that mimic the natural hydrograph is the primary reasonable and prudent alternative for recovery of the species. You frequently hear the term "mimic the natural hydrograph" used in these discussions. Without defining that term, you may begin to wonder just what the role or function of the dams are. We define "mimic" as the shaDe of the flows. They follow the historic natural flows, but do not necessarily duplicate the volumes of the historic flows. Rather, it is a release pattern recreating the seasonal flows and is responsive to the current year's hydrology. Each of the mainstem dams in the upper basin of the Colorado River are under some state of consultation. All indications are that the reasonable and prudent alternatives for all units will be similar. At Flaming Gorge, the Service's Final Draft Biological Opinion, issued February 12 of this year, calls for low stable flows in the late summer, fall, and winter and high flows in the spring. Historically, we have stored water during the heavy spring snowmelt period and made large volume releases in the summer and winter. Included in the releases were fluctuations to meet power demands. At the Aspinall Unit, we are initiating research that will lead to a Biological Opinion in 5 years. A preliminary report done by the Service centers on how the flows have been altered from the natural conditions. We have been requested to follow a natural hydrograph during the 5-year research period to study possible biological responses to the fish community. The approach of this research is different than in the past wherein the Service wants to see operational changes up front based on the information and hypothesis generated from other biological opinions. At Navajo Dam, Reclamation has agreed, under consultation to follow the natural hydrograph for a 7-year research period and on a long-term basis based upon the research results. What are the impacts of such operational changes? To recreate the natural flow conditions we provide low, stable flows throughout the summer, fall and winter and high releases in the spring. That's generally opposite of historic reservoir operations. Such releases may be injurious to the primary purposes of conservation and storage. They may cause a significant drawdown 7